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Del Mastro says trains will run by 2014 - THE LATEST

Shining Waters Railway will make its first run on Canada Day 2014, and MP Dean Del Mastro plans to be aboard.

Del Mastro updated the community on the Peterborough-to-Toronto rail link during a presentation at The Venue on George St. Tuesday morning.

He said the plan would cost $233 million, which includes track refurbishing, building or upgrading six stations and platforms, repairing bridges and purchasing refurbished rail cars.

"There's no question that rail travel is going through a renaissance," Del Mastro said.

The plan calls for the non-profit Shining Waters Railway Authority, a local entity, to own the service, with professional rail operators hired to run the route. CP Rail would donate the rail corridor.

The provincial and federal governments have each set aside $150 million to bring rail service back to Peterborough, Del Mastro said.

Del Mastro said passenger service from Peterborough to Union Station in Toronto would likely take about 90 minutes and cost about $16.50 each way.

The Shining Waters cost is significantly lower than the $541 million estimate generated last year by Metrolinx, Del Mastro noted, but said he looks forward to working with the Toronto-area transportation authority.

Stuart Harrison, general manager of the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerc, pointed out that with several stops between Peterborough and Toronto, the line services commuters in several communities.

Harrison said the plan came in lower than the Metrolinx report in part because of the decision to purchase refurbished Budd diesel cars, rather than new rail cars.

Freight service to and from Toronto would take about 150 minutes per trip, Del Mastro said, because of slower speeds aimed at reducing wear on the tracks.

MP Dean Del Mastro addresses the crowd during an announcement of the progress report of the Shining Waters Railway on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, at The Venue on George St. Trains will run again in Peterborough on July 1, 2014, said MP Dean Del Mastro Del Mastro also said the first train would leave after the Canada Day parade. CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/Peterborough Examiner/QMI Agency